Knockdown wrought iron chair



March 9,1948. c. P. MOLLA 2,437,304

I KNQCKDOWN WROUGHT IRON CHAIR Filed Feb. 18, 1946.

J9, -lllllllllllh INVENTOR 6 /49; .65 Q 044 BY 5 I ATTO NEY PatentedMar. 9, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,437,304 KN OCKDOWN WROUGHTIRON CHAIR Charles P. Molla, New Hyde Park, N. Y.

Application February 18, 1946, Serial No. 648,398

14 Claims. (01. 155-194) 1 This invention relates to chairs sometimesidentified as wrought iron chairs adapted for porch, terrace and outdooruse. More particularly, the invention deals with chairs of the kinddefined constructed of detachably coupled parts or sections, therebyfacilitating packaging of the complete knockdown chair in a relativelythin box or carton of length and width governed primarily by the lengthand width of one part or-section of the chair, for example, the back andrear leg section. Still more particularly, the inventlon deals in aknockdown chair construction wherein the intercoupled parts haveinterengaging means for rigidly maintaining the parts in assembledrelationship. The novel feature of the invention will be best understoodfrom the following description when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed,and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views; andinwhich:

Fig. 1 is a front View of a chair made according to my invention. I

Fig. 2 is a side view of the chair as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an exploded plan view of the chair showing one arm attachedwith the other arm ready for attachment, and with the upper part of theback rest cut away.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, diagrammatic, exploded, perspective view showingthe method of assembling the seat frame with the back leg frame andfront legs, one of the front legs only being shown and with part of theconstruction broken.

away.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view diagrammatically illustrating the packagingof the knockdown chair.

In constructing metal or wrought iron chairs of the type and kindadapted for porch, terrace and other outdoor uses, it has been customaryto construct the chair in a more or less permanent assemblage. Thismethod of procedure has necessitated storing chairs, as well as shipmentof chairs in arelatively large package, diflicult for wrapping orhandling, and taking up large space in transportation cars or vehicles,thereby minimizing the number of complete chairs in such a shipment.Furthermore, chairs of this permanent construction have presented aproblem of storage in the home, by reason of the space occupied therebyin storage and by reason of this fact, limited uses have been made ofchairs of the kind under consideration.

It is the purpose of my invention to so construct a chair as tofacilitate compact packaging for storage, shipment and transportation,and further in storage in the home in mid-seasons and when not in use.

Chairs of the kind under consideration are supplied in a few differentcolors or a combination of colors and are usually sold with cushions forthe seats and the cushions may be sold and packaged separately,particularly in facilitating selection as to the base color of the chairand the color of cushions employed.

It is also well to point out at this time that chairs of the kind underconsideration can be constructed in different shapes and contours, par-.ticularly with respect to the shape of the seat and the back restportion of the back frame or section as well as in the arm restsemployed.

In the present illustration of my invention, I employ a round seatsection I 0, a rear leg and back rest section 11, two similarsubstantially L-shaped arms l2, which in Figs 1 and 3 of the drawing areidentified as lZ-IZ', and two similar front legs designated in Figs. 1and. 3, as l3-i3'. As the arms and front legs are of the sameconstruction, the brief description of one will apply to both. The seatsection I!) comprises a circumferential frame I 4 of T-shaped crosssectional form, in other words, comprising an outer vertical plate 15and a central horizontal plate [6, note Figs. 4 and 5.

Welded or otherwise secured to the horizontal part I6 is a lattice, meshor other openwork seat facing, part of which is shown at H, in Fig. 3 ofthe drawing. This construction forms a spring type seat construction andthe recessed top of the seat forms a recess for retaining a cushion, notshown, against displacement from the seat. The horizontal or flangeportion it of the frame I4 has three spaced apertures at the rearportion thereof, as indicated at l8, for the reception of bolts, as atIS, in Fig. 3 of the drawing, in securing the seat section I 0 to thecurved bracket portion 20 of the back section I I. In Fig. 4 of thedrawing, the seat body I! has been omitted for sake of clarity in the.diagrammatic illustration of the exploded parts in said figure.

The horizontal or flange portion I 6 of the frame M has two pairs ofopenings at the forward side portions thereof, one pair of which areillustrated at 2|, in Fig. 4 of the drawing. Bolts or similar fastenersI9 are passed through these openings and through registering openings 22in curved heads 23 at the upper end of each front leg 13-13. In thisconnection it will also appear that the bracket 29 has apertures 24which aline with the apertures l8 in receiving the bolts IS. The bracket29 as Well as the heads 23 have curved outer surfaces 25 and 26respectively, which are adapted to seat snugly upon the inner surface ofthe vertical wall it of the frame i i, beneath the flange it, andto'conform with the contour of the wall 15, so as to prevent anypossible twisting or turning of the legs l3l3' in the section It or theback section II, in the section it.

The bracket 2% has welded or otherwise selower portion of the frontperpendicular wall 15 of the frame i l, as clearly illustrated in Fig.of the drawing. This fitting is relatively snug, but free, and in thisrespect, the illustration in Fig.

4 of the drawing is somewhat exaggerated for sake of clarity. Theshowing in Fig. 5 is more accurate.

The bracket'fii spaces and reinforces the legs 23-38, and when the seatsection it issecured in position, this seat further braces and supportsthe legs, as will be apparent. Joining the legs above the bracket 20 isacurved back strap 3%, note Figs. 1 and 2,'Whi0h joins the upper andoutwardly flared portions 3i3l' of the back legs 2328'. Secured to, andextending upward-- ly from the back strap 39 are a plurality. of rods 32having coiled upper ends as at 33, the upper ends being welded togetherin the manner most clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Theupper coiled ends 33 of the two side rods are welded or otherwisesecured to'the upper -ends til-3i. of the rear. legs. The upper endsofthe rear legs have horizontally arranged bracket portions ti -3dapertured to receive bolts '35 which also pass through apertures 36 36:in' therear portions of the arms |2--'i2. V

Welded or otherwise secured totheframe i i at front side portionsthereof are outwarly extending apertured brackets 3l-3l adapted toreceive bolts 33 which also pass through'apertures in the lower endstil-39 of the arms 52-42. The arms are made-of a plurality of rods assimilar to the rods Stand united in the upper and lower ends tofacilitate coupling with the respective bracket supports. The rods ofthe arms 12-!2 are curved in the manner illustrated the assembled chair.

'When the chair is in knockdown condition, the

various partsis, ll, 12 and-l3 can be compactly assembled in a box orcarton, such as shown at ii in Fig. 6 of the drawing for storage andshipment thereof. Further this carton may be utilized as a means forstoring and putting away the knockdown chair when the same is not inuse.

In Fig. 6 the various parts or sections are diagrammatically illustratedin dotted lines in the carton and it will be apparent that the size ofhe carton will be governed by the size of the back frame El,particularly with respect to length and Width, whereas thickness will begoverned' partially to the curvature of the section l l as appear Thearms l2-l2' also flare outwardly, as will appear at the left of Fig. 3of the drawing to give a wide entrance to what otherwise might be re- '1cured thereto outwardly extendingcouplingrods 5 "garded as a relativelysmall seat.

- 32-33, including the band to may be referred to as aback rest portion42 on the section H. The

front legs 83 terminate at their lower ends in relatively large discfeet i3l3 and the rear legs terminate in similar feet it- M, these feetare "adapted to prevent piercing aturfor similar ground when thechairsare used on a lawn and 1 also to distribute the load on a carpetor rug.

In assembling the chair from its knockdown condition, the front legslt-iii can first-be assembled on the seat frame l t, after whichtheframe with the legs thereon can be coupled with the bracket 29 oftheback section 1 1, after which the arms I2-I?. can be assembled.

Considering Figs. 2 and '3. of the drawing, it will appear that therodback rest 2 is curved, as viewed in plan, to provide acurved backandthe back rest is also curvedupwardly, as seen in Fig. 2, so as toprovide a comfortable back rest support for the occupant of the chair.

. Having'fully described my invention-what I claim asnew'and desir'eitosecure byv Letters Pat- 'ent'is: 1. Aknockdown wroughtiron' chaircomprising .the leg members below thebackrest portion, the

seat section comprising a frame having an openwork seat portion. withinthe'iframe; means detachably coupling the frame of'itheseat section withthe bracketof theback section,cfront leg members, and means detachablycoupling upper endsof the front leg members withthe front-portion of theframe of said seat section.

' 2. A knockdown wroughtiron ch-air comprising a back section andseatsection,the"back and spacing the leg members below the'back restportion, the seat section comprising a frame having an openwork seatportion within the'frame,

means detachably coupling theiframe 'of'the seat section 'with' thebracket of'the back 'section,t'front leg members, means'detachably'coupling upper endsof the'front leg'members withth'e' frontportion of theframe of said seat'section, upper'end portions of the legmembers "of the :back' section flaring outwardly above the seat"section; "andthe backrest portion including a "band jo-ining'said endportions of the rear-"legs"above'fthe' seat section.

3. A knockdown'wrought iron chair compris- "ing a'backsectionand'se'atsection; the back section comprising apair of rear leg membersintegrally joined'at the upper end in a back rest portion, the backrestportion being curved intermediate said legs, a bracket integrallyjoining and spacing the leg members below the back rest portion, theseat section comprising a frame having an openwork seat portion withinthe frame, means detachably coupling the frame of the seat section withthe bracket of the back section, front leg members, means detachablycoupling upper ends of the front leg members with the front portion ofthe frame of said seat section, upper end portions of the leg members ofthe back section flaring outwardly above the seat section, the back restportion including a band joining said end portions of the rear legsabove the seat section, and arm rest members detachably coupled with theupper ends of the rear leg members and with the sides of the frame ofsaid seat section.

4. A knockdown wrought iron chair comprising a back section and seatsection, the back section comprising a pair of rear leg membersintegrally joined at the upper end in a back rest portion, the back restportion being curved intermediate said legs, a bracket integrallyjoining and spacing the leg members below the back rest portion, theseat section comprising a frame having an openwork seat portion withinthe frame, means detachably coupling the frame of the seat section withthe bracket of the back section, front leg members, means detachablycoupling upper ends of the front leg members with the front portion ofthe frame of said seat section, upper end portions of the leg members ofthe back section flaring outwardly above the seat section, the back restportion including a band joining said end portions of the rear legsabove the seat section, arm rest members detachably coupled with theupper ends of the rear leg members and with the sides of the frame ofsaid seat section, and said arm rest members intermediate the endsthereof being of openwork construction.

5. A knockdown wrought iron chair comprising a back section and seatsection, the back section comprising a pair of rear leg membersintegrally joined at the upper end in a back rest portion, the back restportion being curved intermediate said legs, a bracket integrallyjoining and spacing the leg members below the back rest portion, theseat section comprising a frame having an openwork seat portion withinthe frame, means detachably coupling the frame of the seat section withthe bracket of the back section, front leg members, means detachablycoupling upper ends of the front leg members with the front portion ofthe frame of said seat section, upper end portions of the leg members ofthe back section flaring outwardly above the seat section, the back restportion including a band. joining said end portion of the rear legsabove the seat section, arm rest members detachably coupled with theupper ends of the rear leg members and with the sides of the frame ofsaid seat section, said arm rest members intermediate the ends thereofbeing of openwork construction, the back rest portion comprising aplurality of rods, the lower ends of the rods being secured to saidband, and the upper ends of said rods having united coiled portions.

6. A knockdown metal chair comprising a back section, a seat section andfront leg members, said back section comprising a pair of long rodsforming rear leg members of the chair, a back rest portion integrallyjoining upper ends of said rods, a bracket integrally joining andspacing the rods below the back rest portion, said bracket 6 beingarranged and spaced forwardly of said rods to form channels between thebracket and rods, said seat section comprising a peripheral frame, theframe in cross section having an outer vertical wall portion and aninner horizontal flange portion, said horizontal flange portion beingadapted to seat on the bracket of the back section with the verticalwall portion fitting in the channels between the bracket and said rods,fastener devices passed through said flange and the bracket fordetachably coupling the seat and back sections, said leg members havingheads at the upper ends thereof adapted to seat upon the flange of theseat frame within the outer wall portion, and fastener devicesdetachably coupling the leg members with said flange.

7. A knockdown metal chair comprising a back section, a seat section andfront leg members, said back section comprising a pair of long rodsforming rear leg members of the chair, a back rest portion integrallyjoining upper ends of said rods, a bracket integrally joining andspacing the rods below the back rest portions, said bracket beingarranged and spaced forwardly of said rods to form channels between thebracket and rods, said seat section comprising a peripheral frame, theframe in cross section having an outer vertical wall portion and aninner horizontal flange portion, said horizontal flange portion beingadapted to seat on the bracket of the back section with the verticalportion fitting in the channels between the bracket and said rods,fastener devices passed through said flange and the bracket fordetachably coupling the seat and back sections, said leg members havingheads at the upper ends thereof adapted to seat upon the flange of theseat frame within the outer wall portion, fastener devices detachablycoupling the leg members with said flange, the frame of the seat sectionbeing circular in form, and said bracket and the heads of said legmembers being curved to conform with the curvature of the seat frame.

8. A knockdown metal chair comprising a back section, a seat section andfront leg members, said back section comprising a pair of long rodsforming rear leg members of the chair, a back rest portion integrallyjoining upper ends of said rods, a bracket integrally joining andspacing the rods below theback rest portions, said bracket beingarranged and spaced forwardly of said rods to form channels between thebracket and rods, said seat section comprising a peripheral frame, theframe in cross section having an outer vertical wall portion and aninner horizontal flange portion, said horizontal flange portion beingadapted to seat on the bracket of the back section with the verticalportion fitting in the channels between the bracket and said rods,fastener devices passed through said flange and the bracket fordetachably coupling the seat and back sections, said leg members havingheads at the upper ends thereof adapted to seat upon the flange of theseat frame within the outer wall portion, fastener devices detachablycoupling the leg members with said flange, the frame of the seat sectionbeing circular in form, said bracket and the heads of said leg membersbeing curved to conform with the curvature of the seat frame, a pair ofsubstantially L-shaped arm rest members, and means at the ends of thearm rest members and on the seat frame and said first named rods fordetachably coupling the arm rest members with the seat and backsections.

9. In knockdown metal chairs of the class demoi isaid racial-said see iperipheral frame A of mredeterminectcontour, said I bracket conformingtothe contour (if-and adapted to fitwsnugly on the) irame of tl'le seat=secticn, means detachably coupling the frame of the seat section withsaid bracket; means forming nels betv-Jeenthe braclret and :backsection, and the frame of the seat section having Wall parts adapted tofit in said channels in the assemblage of said sections.

back section ccmpr:

' 'legs'oithe r- V :"tion' integrally joining upper end portions ofsaid,

scribedmomprisingl detachaloly coupledw baickiand 'eatsections and; aipairriof ifrontlalegamembers .letac'hably: :coupledtiwithcseatersectionsi: Lthe back section' rcomprising a pairs of:rodsrforming 1 rear legs:ofrthearesultingz chair} whack: restipor-. tionintegrally; ijoining .tupper ehd'ilportionssi of rods, a'lbracketiintegrally EjDiHingLIht-I'JOds :belew said Jeacir:restporticns ran-d tarrangediorwaraly rof sairi rociaasaid; seat.s'ection: comprising a peripheral-I frame ofpredetermined:rcontour; 1said "bracketacenformingisto Lthe" tcontour-oi and adapted :to snugly:on: the frame oiiithe seat section,ana;meansidewchablyicouplingtthe'frame 1 01" the. seat:section withfsaid.bracket.

H 7 1 :111 kneckricwn ametai'. chairs A of the class' 'dej scribedcomprising deta'chably Ic'oupl'ed back: and

seat sections and aspair ofirontvleg: members eetacliably. coupledifwith the: seat sections, L the back section comprising a pair of rods'forming 1389,12 legs'oi the resultinglchair, abackrest por 131011integrally j'oiningmpgier end-portionsof said 1 irotls, a'bracketintegrally :joiningl'lthe was below saidback rest pertions lfandarranged for-Wardly i section comprising a chan- 1 11.4inknockdown metalchairs o'f'thaclassdescribed comprising detachabiy coupled-'=back andsectionsand a pair of front' leg'imembers detachably coupled With theseat sections, the

ing a pair'of rods forming tilting chair, aback-rest porrcds, a bracketintegrally i'oining the rods below said back rest-portions and:arrangedforwardly of said rocls, said seat section comprisingaperipheralframe of predeterminedcontour, said "bracket conforming to the contourof" and adapt ed tofitsnugly on the frame of' the-seat section,

im'eans cletachably-rcoupling the frame of the seat section with said"bracket, means forming channels betweenthe bracketand the rods of theback section,;thefrarne of the seat section havingwall'parts adaptedto'fit in'said charmelsiin the assemblage 01"" said sectionaithebackrestportion theback section" comprising. plurality 01 rods; upperend of the rods beingmoiled; ancl said coiled ends abutting and beingfixedly" secured to-each other.

7 12.1111 knockdown metal chairs "of. the classdescribed, aback-section, a seat sectien', iront'leg members, the seat sectioncomprising a peripheral frame, said frame having a perpendicular.

outer-wall inwardly of- Whichis a: horizontal flange portion, the backsection comprising a rcds ol the;

apainrof rlegerbds, a' bracketijoi ningiancl ispating i -said.rods;saidmiacketrconfarming:to and-adapted to 'fit 'snu'gly-withinthefouter: wallo'fithe seat frame and 'cup'onssaid flange; means 1detachably securing ithibra'cket tothe :flange or ithezzseat 2 :iramathe upperemisof =theffront leg members having enlarged heads conformingwith' tlrie contour of:the outer wall -of theseat irame and .-.;arlaptedto seat err-the fiange of-saidframe; :and 10 means (ietach'ablysecuring-thaheads 0f the leg members with said seatiirame.

m 1311 111 knockrlowrrmetal chairs bt tha'class described; a backsection, aseat sectiom: front leg members'; the seat section comprisinga periph- -eral frameg'said -frame :h'aving a- -perpendicular cuter 2 119/11 inwardly i of! which is a horizontal flange portion;- theback-section comprising a pair of leg rods, a bracket joining andspacing z said-roclg s'aid bracket conforming to and adapted. to fitsnugly Within 'theouter wall of the": seat frame "ans- 1mm. said flange;means" detachably securingPthe bracket to the flange-oi the seat"iramegthe upper ends of the front leg members 7 having enlarged headsconforming Withthe contour.-=0i the-outer' -wall of ilthe seat frame andadapted togseatuonthe flange: ofsaid' firame, m-cans 1detachably-"securing theheads 'of' the leg nbersaw ith said seatirame,and means com- .ing' "detachable arm members joining the-back cticnabeve the seat -sectmm with 'thefor-ward. .lsidezportions of: the frame'of the seat section for bracing said back"andmseat sections.

: i l. 2 in; i'kn'eick'downt :metal: chairs: "of 1 the 1? class:rlescribed; a.=tback:%section', aseat secti'on, -iront members; theseat asection comprising: a pe- 1 ripheral :frameasa idr frame having;all-perpendicuiar outer; wall inwardly of: Lwhichzis airhorizontalflange portion, the vback"section'afcomprising a pair of: leg rode; a.bracket :joining :and; spacing 40 said roda-said:bracketzconformingtoand adapted to fitxsnuglynWithin'the:outer wall 'ofthelseat trame34171111511130? saidfiangawmeansdetachably P securing t-l eabraeketatothe-flange; of theseat frame, and means. on'ithe front:- leg imembersfittingsnuglylin the seat. frames and securedwthereto fort attachingatlas-front leg: members with asaid --.-frame.

IREFEREN-CESA CITED E The :ieliowing': references are*of--record= inthe:files of this patent:

UNITED. STATESTPATENTS ":trName ;;sa1omon Oct 17; 1933 sZerbee -e July7?, '1936

